Google Nexus 7 review (2013)

Individuals declare to purchase completely different tablets for various functions. Some desire a sensible show and highly effective chip for gaming, whereas others desire a smaller show and first rate specs for merely studying eBooks. Nevertheless, there’s additionally that group of people that simply need one of the best – whether or not it’s from Apple, Samsung, Google and Asus, and so forth.

Tablets like the brand new Nexus 7 might enchantment to any of these teams of individuals. It is mini. It’s sturdy. It is well-built. Furthermore, it is the most recent Nexus gadget geared up with Android four.three Jelly Bean. Meaning you should utilize it to observe season 4 of Arrested Improvement in 1080p on Netflix, or you can even obtain and read Fifty Shades of Gray. We imply, The Nice Gastby.

However, how does the brand new Nexus 7 evaluate to the unique Nexus 7? Is it a kind of tablets that is solely price upgrading bi-yearly? And the way does it measure as much as Apple’s iPad mini? Whether or not you are a gamer or bookworm, it is time to discover out if you can purchase Google’s new $229 Nexus 7.

Design

Let’s begin by recalling the unique Nexus 7: no low cost plastic bezel, modern glass entrance fused to a neat steel band, and edges curve right into a gripped, dimpled again that is each mushy and comfy.

The newer Nexus 7 has tossed all that rubberised plushness in favour of an all-plastic black shell with a matte end. It is actually not as rugged-feeling as the unique Nexus 7, however it’s much less susceptible to fingerprints and appears fairly svelte.

As for the bezels, they’re 2.75mm thinner on all sides, making it simpler to carry with one hand. The highest and backside bezels have not modified, although. The brand new sixteen:10 side ratio and totally different bezel measurements create a considerably odd proportion dimension, particularly at first look, however you shortly get used to the expertise and end up zipping and taking part in alongside with out one other thought.

The brand new Nexus 7 can also be extra light-weight than the unique at 290g and eight.65mm skinny for the Wi-Fi-solely mannequin. Sure – for these maintaining rating – meaning the brand new Nexus 7 can be barely thicker than the iPad mini. They’re virtually the identical in peak, nonetheless.

Earlier than leaping into hardware, we now have to say controls. The brand new Nexus 7 has digital navigation buttons, in fact, so the entrance is shiny easy; there’s additionally a Micro USB port and speaker grilles on the underside edge, 3.5mm headphone jack, on the highest edge, quantity and energy buttons on the appropriate edge and a non-centred camera lens on the entrance high-bezel.

The unique Nexus 7 had a centred lens on the entrance, which we expect regarded extra aesthetically pleasing. Lastly, Asus has put a 5-megapixel shooter on the again nook, in addition to Asus branding and a mammoth, now-vertical Nexus brand.

Hardware

Beginning with the 2 cameras, there is not an excessive amount of to go on about. The bigger lens on the again captures respectable images. However there is not any LED flash. Nonetheless, there may be speaker grille for truestereo sound. That is a particular plus when in comparison with the unique Nexus 7’s mono sound.

As for that awkwardly positioned entrance shooter we talked about earlier – effectively, it is a ache for selfies. Not that we suggest utilizing a tablet for selfies anyway. nevertheless it positively captures respectable footage; it is simply cumbersome to line up, particularly for those who’re extra aware of a centred digicam lens.

The brand new Nexus 7’s cameras may not win us over, however the 7.02-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD show positive did. Every part seems to be first-class with this show – from disagreeable selfies to gorgeous 1080pNetflix. At 323ppi with good colors and impeccable viewing angles, the brand new Nexus 7’s show may give Apple’s iPad a run for its cash. Additionally, in case you had been questioning, the unique Nexus7’s show solely supplied 216 ppi.

Going below the hood: the 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Professional is a serious enhance over the 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 chip discovered within the authentic Nexus 7. There’s additionally an Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB of RAM. All of this mixed equals a tablet that is each tremendous-responsive and quick. We did not discover any hiccups, gradual loading or lagging, which shocked us contemplating the excessive calls for of the show.

Talking of the show once more, when it comes to efficiency, you should flip the brightness all the way down to get enough battery life. The battery is barely three,950mAh, which is lower than the four,324mAh discovered within the unique Nexus 7.

Which means a full battery will provide you with about eight hours of use when consuming numerous video, and that is with the show at 50 per cent brightness. Extra brightness coupled with restricted video and common use will present simply sufficient battery life to final a whole day.

Software

The brand new Nexus 7 comes with Android 4.3. It’s nonetheless Jelly Bean, nevertheless it boasts help for Bluetooth LE, which opens up a brand new world of equipment like watches, and OpenGL ES three.zero for higher graphics. These OS options aren’t precisely wow-worthy in our opinion. So, it is principally the identical software program that powered the unique Nexus 7.

Probably the most noticeable software program change is the addition of restricted profiles, which disables in-app purchases, however it’s additionally a mere settings instrument that has lengthy been offered by eReaders fromAmazon and Barnes & Noble. And let’s not overlook about Google Play Video games. It is a prettier model of Apple’s Sport Middle, offering the flexibility to trace scores and progress with mates through a community connection.

As for tablet-optimised video games to play with associates – nicely, there simply aren’t that many. Allow us to make clear: there are numerous Android apps in Google Play nowadays, however quite a lot of them are merely scaled-up cellphone apps. Apple’s App Retailer has way more to offer.

Past what’s new and accessible, the efficiency in Android 4.3 is not a lot completely different from the final model. The brand new Nexus 7 continues to be one of many speediest and smoothest Android tablets in the marketplace, however we expect that is extra right down to hardware than software program.

Verdict

There isn’t any denying the brand new Nexus 7 is an incredible tablet. But it surely’s additionally simply an improve.

For $229 (round £one hundred fifty) with 16GB of inner storage, you get a extra-fashionable exterior and a few beefier internals. That is truly an honest value to pay if you need the most recent and best from Google and Asus. Nonetheless, some individuals – who could be upgrading their previous 32GB Wi-Fi-solely model or 32GB LTE mannequin – won’t wish to cough up $269 and $349 respectively for therefore few enhancements and tweaks.

A year from now, Google will probably unveil a brand new, new Nexus 7. And it is likely to be simply one other yearly improve – or it might be utterly revamped tablet loaded with Key Lime Pie OS. That is all hypothesis, in fact, however that is the tech world for you.

On the finish of the day, in case you have the cash to spare and desire a stellar Android tablet for occasional gaming, Netflix-ing and studying, than the brand new Nexus 7 is the perfect machine for you. It matches comfortably in a single hand, and it gives a crisp show, snappy efficiency and the latest model of Android. What’s to not love?